Institutional GBA Plus Capacity
The Office of Women and LGBTQ2 Veterans has the departmental functional responsibility for Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) and the shared responsibility to implement the departmental 2020 Gender-Based Analysis Plus Strategy. The Office of Women and LGBTQ2 Veterans advances the integration of GBA Plus within the work of the Department in order to progress equitable outcomes for all Veterans, inclusive of those in under-represented sub-populations. This is done by supporting the development and accessibility of tailored training and resources for VAC employees; encouraging the collection of disaggregated data for research, planning and evaluation purposes; leading the departmental GBA Plus Network; and building departmental capacity in applying an intersectional lens when designing programs, policies and services. The Office represents Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) on the GBA Plus Interdepartmental Committee led by Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada.
In March 2021, the Building Gender Inclusive Services project was concluded with the creation of a Roadmap for Change titled Road Towards Inclusion to modernize sex and gender information management practices in the Department in compliance with Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) policy direction. The Road Towards Inclusion will continue to be integrated in the Veterans Affairs Canada’s Information and Data Strategy. The Information and Data Strategy is designed to shift VAC culture and ensure data and information is better utilized to improve decision-making for the benefit of Veterans and their families, departmental employees, and Canadians. In addition to the Strategy, for the first time in 2021, the Census contained a Veteran Identifier that will continue to enable the Department to gain valuable information about Canada’s Veteran population. Additionally, the 2022 annual VAC National Client Survey contained gender, Indigenous, and visible minority indicators, which allows VAC to disaggregate and analyze by subpopulation, in addition, a secondary analysis of the survey will provide new insights into satisfaction levels, to help improve service delivery, and support further research on the needs of Veterans. Collecting new data allows the Department to ensure Veterans and their families have the right care, treatment, and programs and services at the right time. Access to additional data regarding the broader Veteran population builds on the foundational data elements that are currently being used for GBA Plus including, sex, age, language, marital status, geographic location, service type (Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP), client type (survivor, spouse, dependent, Veteran, etc.), homelessness, level of disability (%), whether a client has diminished earnings capacity, military service branch (army, navy, air force), release type (medical, non-medical/voluntary), rank at release, time since release, and length of service allowing for disaggregated data analysis across various sub-groups.
The Department also maintains a data warehouse containing data extracted from various VAC internal systems. These data points are used to make validated program data sets available with self-service dashboards based on program area reporting requirements, inclusive of GBA Plus data elements. This data provides program areas with ready access to information required to better monitor, manage and track program outcomes. This enhanced reporting tool allows more timely and accurate views of intersecting data elements as more data is made available for use.
The Department also uses analytics to understand the sub-groups of Veteran clients, their needs and ways that services and programs can meet those needs. The Department uses a GBA Plus/intersectional data analysis lens to monitor, analyze and report on VAC programs and services, service standards, and inform research. This contributes to enhanced program management, results and evaluation.
Applying GBA Plus is also a standard consideration in the Department’s innovation efforts. VAC uses a human-centred design process, ensuring that consultations include representatives from various gender and diverse populations. Proposed solutions, performance measurement, and monitoring of individual initiatives include consideration of gender and diversity impacts.
GBA Plus analysis is also used in evaluations where evaluators promote the requirement to collect data to support such analysis across all departmental programs.
Efforts to improve diversity and inclusion are aimed at shifting the culture of the organization to focus on equitable outcomes, by understanding the unique needs of under-represented sub-groups such as women, 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous, Black and racialized Veterans and Veterans with disabilities, and the necessary use of research and disaggregated data to provide tailored/adaptive programs and services to these Veterans and client groups.
Highlights of GBA Plus Results Reporting Capacity by Program
Disability Benefits
The program collects some data that monitors and/or reports impacts by binary sex, language, age, geography and some service characteristics.
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
Disability Benefits has access to a validated program dataset and self-service dashboard. The dashboard allows managers to monitor client usage of the program by age and sex. The dataset contains additional indicators such as level of assessed disability and geographic location on which reports can be built for monitoring and analysis. Additionally, Disability Benefits is working to ensure equitable service standard results between men and women currently reflecting sex, as well as between French and English-speaking clients. In the future, these comparisons could be expanded to include other identity factors, with additional measures added in the system to mitigate the risk of unconscious bias and/or unintended discrimination in its program policy design, delivery and/or evaluation. The Department is examining the possible addition of a gender identifier including non-binary identity. Currently, other factors such as ethnicity are not captured within VAC systems. Additionally, VAC continues to advance its strategy to address the long-standing issue of processing times for Disability Benefits applications, including the application of a GBA Plus mindset to these initiatives to ensure that all applicants are treated respectfully and their applications processed equitably.
Health Care Benefits
The program collects basic data to enable it to monitor and/or report certain program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
VAC is strengthening its GBA Plus analysis for current Health Care Benefits recipients. The Department is developing a dashboard for Health Care Benefits that will allow for effective review, monitoring and reporting of program impacts using a GBA Plus lens. Program Management is also working to develop an interim dashboard to support GBA Plus analysis while the permanent dashboard is in development. Information collected through VAC gateway programs which may not be specifically collected for Health Care Benefits may also be leveraged to inform GBA Plus. Additionally, third party service providers who administer treatment benefits on behalf of the Department, collect and report on usage data for enhanced reporting capability, where additional data elements are deemed necessary for effective program administration. Consultations are taking place with Health Canada, in regards to their GBA Plus initiatives with the aim of sharing best practices. As VAC’s Information and Data Strategy is implemented, additional data analysis improvements are anticipated.
Transition Services
Transition Services programs collect basic data to enable them to monitor and/or report certain program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
Transition Services uses existing client demographic data captured at the departmental level for monitoring and reporting purposes, along with supporting the GBA Plus analysis of Veterans who access these supports. Some Transition Services programs also have third party contractors who provide regular reports. Moving forward, new contracts with third parties will highlight the need to support all Government of Canada reporting requirements, including those for gender and diversity (GBA Plus). Working with third parties also allows VAC to gain valuable knowledge of best practices in private industry as they relate to reporting around equity, diversity, and inclusion. The Department is developing dashboards for the various Transition Services subprograms that will allow for effective review, monitoring and reporting of program impacts using a GBA Plus lens. As VAC’s Information and Data Strategy is implemented, additional data analysis improvements are anticipated.
Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program (RSVP) is initiating a GBA Plus Strategy which invites Rehabilitation Program Participants to share how they identify in relation to a series of identity factors. This information will be used to tailor Rehabilitation Services to the unique needs of the individual. The RSVP reporting system is able to disaggregate participant outcome results by GBA Plus attributes allowing RSVP to analyze Participant Outcome Results from an intersectional lens and determine where improvements need to be made to achieve inclusive and equitable service delivery.
Long Term Care
The program collects basic data to enable it to monitor and/or report certain program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
VAC uses existing client demographic data captured at the departmental level for monitoring and reporting purposes, along with supporting the GBA Plus analysis of current recipients of Long Term Care. The Department is developing a Long Term Care program dashboard that will allow for effective review, monitoring and reporting of program impacts using a GBA Plus lens. Program Management is also working to develop an interim dashboard to support GBA Plus analysis while the permanent dashboard is in development. Information collected through VAC gateway programs which may not specifically be collected for the Long Term Care program may also be leveraged to inform GBA Plus. As VAC’s Information and Data Strategy is implemented, additional improvements in data analysis will be incorporated.
Veterans Independence Program
The program collects basic data to enable it to monitor and/or report certain program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
VAC uses existing client demographic data captured at the departmental level for monitoring and reporting purposes, along with supporting the GBA Plus analysis of current recipients. The Department is developing a VIP program dashboard that will allow for effective review, monitoring and reporting of program impacts using a GBA Plus lens. Program Management is also working to develop an interim dashboard to support GBA Plus analysis while the permanent dashboard is in development. Information collected through VAC gateway programs which may not specifically be collected for the Veterans Independence Program may also be leveraged to inform GBA Plus. As VAC’s Information and Data Strategy is implemented, additional improvements in data analysis will be incorporated.
Caregiver Recognition Benefit
The program collects data that it uses to monitor and/or report certain program impacts. These data include: sex at birth, age, marital status, official language, geography, and some service characteristics.
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
The Department uses existing client demographic data for monitoring and reporting on current program recipients, using the GBA Plus lens and is in the process of developing self-serve dashboard for the program that allows for effective review, monitoring and reporting program impacts using readily available, up-to-date, and validated data.
VAC is developing a strategy to use Statistics Canada data linked with VAC program data for additional GBA Plus analysis of gender other than sex at birth, marital status, Indigenous and ethnic/cultural identity, education, activities of daily living, amongst others as determined by data availability.
Additionally, the Department is exploring options for having a gender identity field in demographic data that will enable gender-diverse veterans and other clients to voluntarily report their gender identity when using VAC’s online portal and/or accessing telephone and in person services.
War Veterans Allowance
The program collects basic data to enable it to monitor and/or report certain program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).
Notable initiatives to expand the program’s capacity to report on impacts by gender and diversity in the future
As VAC’s Information and Data Strategy is implemented, additional improvements in data analysis will be incorporated.
VAC uses existing client demographic data for monitoring and reporting on current program recipients, using the GBA Plus lens and is in the process of developing self-serve dashboard for the program that allows for effective review, monitoring and reporting program impacts using readily available, up-to-date, and validated data.
VAC is developing a strategy to use Statistics Canada data linked with VAC program data for additional GBA Plus analysis of gender other than sex at birth, marital status, Indigenous and ethnic/cultural identity, education, activities of daily living, amongst others as determined by data availability.
Additionally, the Department is exploring options for having a gender identity field in demographic data that will enable gender-diverse veterans and other clients to voluntarily report their gender identity when using VAC’s online portal and/or accessing telephone and in person services.
Income Support
The program collects data that it uses to monitor and/or report certain program impacts. These data include: sex at birth, age, marital status, official language, geography, and some service characteristics.
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
VAC uses existing client demographic data for monitoring and reporting on current program recipients, using the GBA Plus lens and is in the process of developing self-serve dashboard for the program that allows for effective review, monitoring and reporting program impacts using readily available, up-to-date, and validated data.
The Department is developing a strategy to use Statistics Canada data linked with VAC program data for additional GBA Plus analysis of gender other than sex at birth, marital status, Indigenous and ethnic/cultural identity, education, activities of daily living, amongst others as determined by data availability.
Additionally, the Department is exploring options for having a gender identity field in demographic data that will enable gender-diverse veterans and other clients to voluntarily report their gender identity when using VAC’s online portal and/or accessing telephone and in person services.
Veterans Emergency Fund
The program collects data that it uses to monitor and/or report certain program impacts. These data include: sex at birth, age, marital status, official language, geography, and some service characteristics.
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
VAC uses existing client demographic data for monitoring and reporting on current program recipients, using the GBA Plus lens and is in the process of developing self-serve dashboard for the program that allows for effective review, monitoring and reporting program impacts using readily available, up-to-date, and validated data.
The Department is developing a strategy to use Statistics Canada data linked with VAC program data for additional GBA Plus analysis of gender other than sex at birth, marital status, Indigenous and ethnic/cultural identity, education, activities of daily living, amongst others as determined by data availability.
Additionally, the Department is exploring options for having a gender identity field in demographic data that will enable gender-diverse veterans and other clients to voluntarily report their gender identity when using VAC’s online portal and/or accessing telephone and in person services.
Research and Innovation Program
The program collects sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
Research and Innovation includes sub-programs which consist of Grant and/or Contribution agreements made with independent third parties who offer innovative services to Veterans and their families and/or conduct research to better understand and improve Veteran health and wellbeing. The data that is collected through the Research and Innovation program stems from the reporting requirements stipulated in the agreements and not client specific demographic data. Research specific proposals funded by the Department are encouraged to conform with the Sex and Gender Equity in Research Guidelines (SAGER). These guidelines inform how research proposals are designed, conducted, and reported to ensure equitable representation of women Veterans and other under-represented groups. These principles will also be considered during the evaluation of applications to the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund. Data collection, analysis and reporting of disaggregated results/outcomes for funded proposals will also represent Veteran sub-groups. In addition, the Centre of Excellence on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the Centre of Excellence on Chronic Pain. must respect the federal guidelines regarding GBA Plus and submit an annual GBA Plus report. In the annual GBA Plus report, the Centres of Excellence are asked to track and report on evidence of the use of the GBA Plus Research Checklist for each new research initiative and evidence of research activities specifically targeted to the mental health needs of the diverse Veteran population.
Canada Remembers Program
This program collects sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
The Canada Remembers Program intends to complete an evaluation to assess the extent to which the Program is meeting the needs of Veterans and Canadians, and the extent to which the Program is achieving its outcomes in an effective and efficient manner. The Canada Remembers Program aims to be inclusive in the materials it publishes and is cognizant of the need to represent the diverse experiences of the Veteran population, and works to create materials that demonstrate gender balance as well as diverse cultural, ethnic and regional backgrounds when developing learning resources and overseas visitor centre exhibits. Veterans Affairs Canada will continue to apply GBA Plus when consulting with Canadians and Veterans to understand how their perspectives and preferences may align with numerous identity factors.
Funeral and Burial Program
The program collects sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
VAC’s Funeral and Burial Program works with a third-party provider to ensure eligible Veterans receive a dignified funeral and burial. Currently, in order to administer the program, the third-party provider collects data on the date of birth of the client, date of death, sex, marital status, finances/income (assets and liabilities at time of death for Veteran and spouse, if applicable), military service information, health, family structure (whether there is a spouse and/or dependents), and Indigenous name of Veteran (if applicable). This information is used to determine eligibility and for administration of the program. The Funeral and Burial Program also monitors VAC clients who have passed away to ensure all clients who qualify for the Funeral and Burial Program receive this benefit. As the Department explores opportunities to improve its capacity to collect and analyze GBA Plus data, this information will be used to better inform program results.
Veterans Ombudsperson
The OVO advocates for fairness in VAC’s delivery of benefits and services to Canada’s diverse Veteran population by identifying gaps in VAC programs, services and decision-making.
The program collects basic data to enable it to monitor and/or report on programs by gender and some demographic information. The OVO currently has the capacity to capture the following GBA+ data through self-reporting by the client: gender identity, service category (still serving, Veteran, RCMP, etc.), relationship to the Veteran (family member, representative, etc.), age and geographical location.
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
The OVO has initiatives underway to support the expansion of its data collection to better analyze and report on GBA Plus data including an analysis of system requirements to capture and store this data. As the OVO officially reports under VAC with respect to departmental reporting, including GBA+, the OVO intends to align with the direction of VAC’s Information and Data Strategy to enhance GBA+ analysis and reporting.
Internal Services
Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of Programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Within Internal Services, many areas are working to enhance their GBA Plus capacity in order to strive for service excellence in the delivery of VAC’s mission. Internal Services collects sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).
Notable initiatives to expand the GBA Plus capacity to report on impacts by various factors in the future
- The Communications Division considers GBA Plus in its data collection, access and use by using a GBA Plus lens in developing products and services, and promotes an inclusive approach in outreach activities. They continue to seek ways to improve future monitoring and/or reporting techniques. Gender-inclusive recommendations are included in VAC’s internal Style Guide and plain language training is available to employees, underscoring the importance of a Veteran-centric, intersectional approach in all our communications.
- Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Services (CFOCS) Branch collects or has access to sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus) where required to support delivery of services, but continues to explore the ability to incorporate gender collection into VAC systems of record for client information. This will support the department’s ability to develop a deeper understanding of GBA Plus perspectives in relation to VAC programs and policies.
- GBA Plus will continue to be applied to the development and implementation of new and existing applications and the data they collect and use.
- In accordance with Gender Budgeting Act principles, gender and diversity considerations are taken into account in resource planning and allocation decisions in order to promote principles of gender equality and greater inclusiveness.
- As VAC evolves its business practices and internal services, GBA Plus is being applied to their design, testing, and validation to make sure solutions are found that fit the wide-ranging client population, the employee population, and promote equity for all.